Disability Rights

Southeast Missouri State University announced the launch of a new program on campus for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on the SEMO news website. The website states that the Cape County Board for Developmental Disabilities granted $350,000 to the university for the creation of the Redhawks Discover program.

Missouri’s State Board of Education will shutter 12 schools for the severely disabled by next school year, part of a plan to revamp the program and expand support for students with extensive needs.

One of the groups helping Missourians living with a disability navigate the world by advocating for themselves is People First of Missouri. The organization is run by and for individuals with disabilities, of which there are nearly 1.5 million in the state.

For a person with disabilities in Missouri to lose Medicaid health coverage because they make too much money can be devastating since private-pay care is expensive. State Rep. Melanie Stinnett has introduced a bill that would allow them, and/or their spouses with higher incomes to keep their Medicaid benefits.